Atari's Pong gets a reboot in mechanical form

In a world of reboots of films, TV shows and even some video games, it seems only appropriate that the coffee table arcade game gets a redo as well. And what better place to start than with Pong — one of the oldest and most popular arcade games of all time.

Based on earlier electronic tennis games, Atari first released Pong as an arcade machine as the standard upright cabinet in 1972 and later offer a home console version in 1974. The graphics were simple: a dotted line down the centre to denote the net, short lines on each end for the players, and a dot for the ball. But now Unis Games, which manufactures and licenses amusement fair-style games for places, such as Dave & Buster’s and Cineplex’s Rec Room, has brought it back in a format that the company believes will appeal to fans both old and new.

In a photo, the Atari Pong Table may look like a typical table (or cocktail-style) arcade cabinet — something you’d find in an ’80s-era diner and casually play while wolfing down a burger, fries and malt. However, when you see the machine in person, the first thing that sticks out is that the display is not digital but actually tempered glass covering physical paddles and a ball — or rather a tiny cube, to play up the nostalgia of 1970s computer graphics. It also includes retro sounds, has adjustable speed/difficulty, BlueTooth so you can stream music and 4 USB ports to charge your mobile devices.

Stephen Tan, general manager for Unis Technology (Canada), said in a recent interview at the company’s Markham, Ont., office, that the pieces are magnetic and are guided by magnets underneath the table. That along with motors and pulleys recreate the look of 2D graphics.

“It’s a combination of physical versus software that makes the game happen,” he said.

Tan said the mechanical aspect was part of what drew him to the game.

“If it was computer-based … I wouldn’t touch it because I don’t see the appeal, I don’t see the difference,” Tan said. “But the fact that it was physical … I saw tremendous appeal. I’ve taken it to trade shows and people come through and people think it’s a screen … but when they realize it’s a physical game, they’re like ‘Wow, like this is really cool.’ … I haven’t had one disappointed client.”

The Atari Pong Table has won trade show awards, including best in show at last year’s Toronto Fall Home Show.

Tan explained that the mechanical Pong table was invented by a guy named Daniel Perdomo in his garage in Uruguay.

“We saw this gameplay and how it was … superior to the original version.”

“The project started as a hobby carried out by two guys (Perdomo and his co-creator Alvaro Salsamendi) that had no previous knowledge on anything related to electronics or mechanics,” the March 2017 Kickstarter stated. “Eventually, the team grew into a multidisciplinary group of passionate people working together for a common cause.”

That Kickstarter received US$335,422 from 322 backers, well surpassing its $250,000 goal.

Unis signed a deal in October 2017 to develop, market and license the game worldwide.

Tan said he considered the Kickstarter version of the machine about 60% finished but Unis helped refine the design and started shipping devices last summer.

Unis offers three different versions of the Atari Pong Table: the coffee table version for personal/home use; an arcade table which still is shaped like a coffee table but is coin-operated; and a cocktail table, also coin-operated, but more compact.

Tan said a four-player version, with controls on each side, is also in development and should be released this year.

The Atari Pong Coffee Table sells for US$2,999 ($3,982) while the prices of the arcade and cocktail versions will be given through custom quotes.

Unis Technology (Canada) is a subsidiary of UNIS Technology Co. Ltd. in China.